30 minutes with Birm....again.

Waiting for my flight at the airport, as usual, I'll try and answer as many questions as possible. Please, try and make sure what you're asking hasn't already been asked. Any topic you want, let's get started. I'll be with you all until 630pm EST.

Byron Cowart and Josh Sweat, without question. Nothing about them that says "high school student." I was also very impressed with Keenan Walker, the OT from Phoenix committed to Arizona. He's a BIG dude.

I kind of think, with the numbers as they are, that one running back is going to be enough. That guy is going to be Damien Harris. I really, really like Mike Weber, though. I was told last night from a source close to Weber that Ohio State was still his favorite, but I don't think he's any closer to making a decision than Harris is. The LJ Scott to MSU thing stung him a bit, for sure. I "crystal ball'd" Weber to Michigan last night after the Scott commitment.

Ridley's visit to OSU went really well, and the Buckeyes have positioned themselves to make it interesting. I imagine Miami isn't giving up the fight yet either.

Baker has been convinced that going away from home, being his "own guy" was the right decision for him. Florida sold that angle well and it's also got a favorable depth chart, plays in the "mighty SEC" and living in Florida, even Gainesville, doesn't suck.

However, Will Muschamp is going to need a miracle season to keep his job at Florida, and Ohio State will not stop pursuing Baker. It's looked pretty clear that he went against his family's "wishes" by committing to Florida, and we'll see how this one ultimately winds up.

I think, if OSU had their druthers, they'd land two DTs and Gallimore/Wilkins are right there. They're in good shape with Gallimore, but I expect Wilkins to be a Penn State vs Ohio State battle, and for whatever reason, those haven't ended well for the Buckeyes in this cycle.

Legit chance we pull in Malik Jefferson? Just seems typical of Meyer to lose out on a top 50 in state guy and somehow get an even higher ranked guy to replace him, thanks for all the coverage from the last few days!

I'd not get my hopes up too much for that happening. Jefferson will make an official visit, and Baker's decision certainly leaves the door open, but Malik and his family are very close. I can't see him leaving Texas.

Follow up: Did you get to experience Thirsty Thursday at the Nike campus? Essentially the company brings in a band and a bunch of beer and throws a party every Thursday in the summer. They are pretty epic.

You think Baker ends up a Gator? I almost feel bad for the kid, He commits to a big time school yet Loses followers on twitter and to top it off Lebron Comes home the same day and he sees what it truly means to be supported by your own state.

Baker had has decision day thunder stolen by Lebron. I kinda feel bad since its a big day for any highly recruited kid. Don't get me wrong, Baker's decision had me in a sour mood but LeBron's decision quickly changed that.

Ohio State couldn't be in a better position, systemically. Yes, there've been a few disappointing misses, yes there's a few positions they've struggled to recruit, but the game is different these days. There are so many good, young, exciting coaches and so much money flowing into programs all over the country, kids are looking for different opportunities and they're all over the place.

I would imagine that Urban Meyer, if he doesn't see some recruiting "success" from a few of his current assistants, might look in another direction following this season.

Why weren't you buying the Baker to UF chatter when most off the bigwigs in the business had made the switch? Is there reason to believe tOSU will be in it till signing day or has young Jerome bought in to a chance at being a key piece to rebuild Florida?

From my discussions with Jerome, it just never felt like it was "serious," when he talked about Florida. I knew how much he liked them, I knew he had a great visit there, but all logical reasoning would have still indicated Ohio State was the choice. It seemed (and still does) highly unlikely that one three-day visit to a place like Gainesville would overrun years of love for and from Ohio State, but that's what happened.

Ironically, the one coach at OSU the Kirk camp would like to get more involved with his recruitment is Tom Herman, not Meyer. Zach Smith and Herman have done a GREAT job with Kirk, no need for Urban to get too involved now.

I never felt Weber was "below" LJ Scott on the wishlist, and I still don't. If they decide to take two running backs in the class, Mike and Damien would be an amazing duo, if either of them is willing to share the "spotlight" in a class.

Do you think the loss to Michigan State had a major impact on recruiting? Do you think a trip to the NC game, even if it ended in a loss, and clear B1G supremacy would have had an impact on guys like Scott, Clark, Baker, etc...

One loss doesn't make any impact, but the second loss to Clemson - combined with years of the narrative "Ohio State can't win the big games" - might be starting to hurt, at least regionally. In the national picture, the recruits see Urban Meyer, they see Ohio State, and they don't take any points away because of a loss or two, but they DO view the B1G as almost "second-rate."

Definitely not a pipe dream, he made the trip last week because he's interested; and now the trip to FSU that they had planned this month is a "maybe." I think it's an Ohio State, Virginia Tech or Georgia race right now.

Thank you so much I missed that one...Do you know if he answered that before or after he was able to talk to Sweat and see him live at the Opening communicating with the other tOSU recruits? I guess I should reword it too..Do you think we land him?

Might as well come full circle. Does Lebron signing with the Cavs actually help Ohio State (probably more in basketball) but in recruiting/ does Ohio State make a push to have him more involved (i.e. On the sidelines) for big recruiting weekends?

The return of “The King” may not directly help Ohio State’s recruiting, at least in football, but it certainly doesn’t hurt the perception of Ohio State as the “big time.” James will certainly work doubly hard to be an active ambassador not only for Cleveland upon his return, but all things Ohio, and the Buckeyes will certainly be a benefactor.

With a number of night games on the docket, and a home game against Michigan, it’s likely we’ll see James as a regular around the Horseshoe and as we saw last year against Wisconsin, that creates a palpable buzz.

What are the chances that both Burrell and Richmond fill the remaining 2 OL spots. I feel Burrell is pretty much in the fold and I can also see OSU reclaiming the lead for Richmond after a great FNL visit. Who's your pick if it's not Richmond?

I was wondering if there is any chance Nyheim Hines, Rashad Roundtree, or either of the Florida McFaddens (Kendrell or Tarvarus) end up as part of this class? I really like all these guys but haven't heard much lately. Also, have you heard Urquidez or Simmons connected to the Buckeyes at any point yet? Is there any interest on either behalf? Seems like a natural recruiting tool having Green be a teammate at DeMatha Catholic.

I've thought for a while Matt Burrell was likely to end up at Ohio State, and that hasn't changed. Drew Richmond's Buckeye interest is real, Damien Harris too. After speaking with Van Jefferson's family, I get the sense that the Buckeyes have a very good chance to land him soon.

Well, you guys might not know this, but I work two other jobs, so basically my "hobbies" are work, work and work. If I get the chance to just unwind, I like to edit photos, take photos and karaoke, I've got the voice of an angel.

What's your take on the Gibson situation post-Opening? Did he start to convince people he can play QB, or is WR starting to look more like his future? Oh, and what are the chances he makes a trip to Columbus?

Torrance is a really special athlete, that's obvious. I do think he could play quarterback at the next level, but he's got to dedicate himself to the position and to getting better. There's an obvious, and almost self-destructive, chip on his shoulder right now and if he can get a grasp on that and spend his energies on his craft, he could be a championship winning QB in college.

Or an NFL wide receiver.

As far as the odds of him making a trip to Columbus ever? Your guess is as good as mine. He knows they want him up there, it's on him to make that happen.

(not directed at Birm) Appreciate the non-recrutiing questions, but guys, its a one-on-one chance with Birm, ask him stuff about recruiting. Send him a private message somehow to ask him about other things. Lets take advantage of his recruiting genius.

I know that Tim Settle's dad spent a lot of time talking with Justin Hilliard's dad this past week, but I don't see the Buckeyes as a legitimate threat here, at the moment anyway. His dad would prefer Virginia.

I would imagine that Urban Meyer, if he doesn't see some recruiting "success" from a few of his current assistants, might look in another direction following this season.

Who isn't pulling his weight? It can't be Johnson or Ash. We know Warriner isn't going anywhere (unless hired as HC by someone). That leaves Fickell, Coombs, Drayton, Smith and Hinton. Coombs is unlikely to leave as his connections in Ohio, Cincinnati in particular, are of great value. Hinton is tremendously underrated and unlikely to move on. Smith has improved dramatically as a recruiter from what I've read on here. Fickell, and I'm on the 'not an LF fan' side of the fence, but by all accounts he's a solid recruiter. Drayton is also a very good recruiter, but If Drayton was Baker's primary recruiter, well, that cannot be good to lose an elite Ohio kid who grew up a Buckeye fan and whose family preferred OSU. They all seem to be solid recruiters… I'm curious who is considered a weak link???

So Birm you don't feel very good about OSU chances of getting Justin Layne and/or Nate Craig? Why is that? Layne is a Glenville kid and will eventually get an offer. And Craig has said he wants to leave Florida for college and he loves Urban

Layne is not a Glenville kid, he goes to Benedictine with Jerome Baker. Ohio State has not offered, they may be focusing on out of state WRs initially and as we've seen the in-state kids aren't waiting quite as long for the Buckeye "love" as they used to. They're getting it elsewhere and holding it against the Buckeyes. Not saying Layne will continue to do that, but Baker not being at Ohio State doesn't help.

As for Craig, I know how much he likes Ohio State and has always professed to, but it's really, really difficult to pull kids out of Florida all the way to Ohio.